{"product_id":"fairchild-660-mono-compressor-limiter-567-vintage","title":"Fairchild 660 Mono Compressor\/Limiter #567 (Vintage)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eFairchild 660\u003c\/strong\u003e is a mono version of the 670 variable-mu type compressor, using the vacuum tubes for reduction of gain right in the audio signal path, (no re-routing to a compression circuit). The original design was built around a series of RCA 6386 tubes. Approximately 800 of these were manufactured. The first unit was sold to fellow New Jersey resident Rudy Van Gelder, who made great use of the compressor when cutting lacquer masters for Blue Note jazz records and Vox classical records. The second unit went to Olmsted Sound Studios in New York, where Jimi Hendrix would record a decade later. The third unit went to guitar legend Les Paul, another Jersey neighbor and audio pioneer.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe essence of the Fairchild 660\/670 is very fast attack and slow release times. The fast attack was necessary in its role as a broadcast limiter, protecting the transmission tower from explosive transients that could burn up a transformer. This character was also well suited for mastering mono records.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCheck out our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vintageking.com\/fairchild-660-670-compressor-limiter\"\u003ePro Audio Hall of Fame\u003c\/a\u003e to learn more about this legendary piece of gear.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3 id=\"toc_0\"\u003eSETTINGS AND CONTROLS\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eControls include a stepped Input Gain and continuously variable Threshold control, as well as a stepped 6-position switch for Attack and Release, that allow for four different combinations and two program-dependent settings. Set-screws on the back of the unit control the ratio; anywhere from 2:1 as a compressor to 30:1 as a limiter.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eATTACK TIME\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e0.2 milliseconds in positions 1, 2 and 6\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e0.4 milliseconds in positions 3 and 5\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e0.8 milliseconds in position 4\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRELEASE TIME (FROM 10 DB OF LIMITING)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003ePosition 1: 0.3 seconds\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePosition 2: 0.8 seconds\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePosition 3: 2 seconds for multiple peaks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePosition 4: 5 seconds\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePosition 5: 2 sec, 10 sec for multiple peaks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePosition 6: 0.3 sec, 10 sec for multiple peaks, 25 sec across similar levels\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAUTOMATIC FUNCTION OF PROGRAM MATERIAL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e0.3 seconds for individual peaks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e10 seconds for multiple peaks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e25 seconds for consistently high program level\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOMPRESSION RATIO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eA function of the amount of limiting as well as setting of the two threshold controls which can be set to operate at ratios from 1:1 to 1:20\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCONTROLS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eInput Gain Control: step attenuator; 1 dB per step\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eThreshold Control: continuously variable\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eTime Constant Switch: 6 positions, so as to provide fixed and variable time constants for any type of program material\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMetering Switch: 3 positions, so as to measure plate current of each of the control tubes, or as a limiting indicator\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOn\/Off switch\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eInput impedance: 600 ohms\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOutput impedance: 600 ohms\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eInput levels: Normal line levels (+4 or +8 VU)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOutput level: +4 or +8 dBm line (+27 dBm after clipping point)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eGain: 16 dB\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eFrequency response: 20 cycles to 20kc\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eNoise Level: 70 dB below +4 dBm\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLimiting Noises: No audible thumps produced\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eIntermodulation or harmonic distortion: less than 1% at any level up to +18 dBm output (no limiting); less than 1% at 10 dB limiting and +12 dBm output\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Fairchild","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44451395436647,"sku":"492670","price":89995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/8848\/5479\/files\/fairchild-660-mono-compressor-limiter-567-vintage_492670_1.jpg?v=1787097078","url":"https:\/\/vintageking.com\/products\/fairchild-660-mono-compressor-limiter-567-vintage","provider":"Vintage King","version":"1.0","type":"link"}